During the coronavirus pandemic, we must prioritize mental wellness for ourselves and our friends and family, and advocate in our communities and workplaces. Learn how with Julius Boatwright (A&S ’15, SOC WK ’16), the founder and CEO of Steel Smiling, a non-profit that works to bridge the gap between black people and mental health support through education, advocacy, and awareness.
During the coronavirus pandemic, we must prioritize mental wellness for ourselves and our friends and family, and advocate in our communities and workplaces. Learn how with Julius Boatwright (A&S ’15, SOC WK ’16), the founder and CEO of Steel Smiling, a non-profit that works to bridge the gap between black people and mental health support through education, advocacy, and awareness.
Julius Boatwright earned his Master of Social Work degree with a Certificate in Human Services Management and an B.A. degree in Communications at the University of Pittsburgh.
Julius serves as the Founder and CEO with Steel Smiling, which strives to expose every black adult in the country to a mental health experience that improves their quality of life by 2050. Since 2015, Steel Smiling has coordinated more than 1,000 hours of mental health trainings and therapy for black community members in Western Pennsylvania. Julius has consulted with and trained the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Community Care Behavioral Health, and the Department of Human Services. His work has been featured in media outlets such as the Huffington Post, NPR, and TEDxPittsburgh. An article about mental health in the black community published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette surpassed 20,000 impressions after being shared by multi-platinum recording artist Michelle Williams (formerly of Destiny’s Child) and nationally syndicated radio show host Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamagne also quoted Julius during a televised interview with NBA all-star Andre Iguodala, who affirmed that, “Saying no is a radical act of self-care that can positively impact our mental health.”
